The Lagos State Government has expressed readiness to strengthen trade relations with the United State of America as part of efforts to further boost its economy and help to scale up its infrastructural development programmes and enhance good governance.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode stated this during a courtesy visit by the United States Trade Facilitation Group led by Ms. Audrey Edmonson, Commissioner Miami-Dade County of Florida. He explained that the State Government is working hard to improve its health care delivery system and expand its infrastructure development projects to a mega city status, urging the team to consider health care, infrastructure, construction and transportation as possible areas of collaboration.

The Governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, stated that the Independent Power Project (IPP) of the State Government has tremendously improved electricity supply in some government institutions, noting that there was the need to improve energy generally in the state to cater for the energy needs of manufacturing industries and the like to further boost the economy.

Other areas of business relations that the Governor wanted the delegation to focus on include, environmental management, hospitality, tourism, agriculture, energy among others.

While promising the delegation that government would continue to provide a friendly business environment for trade and commerce, Ambode assured them of quick returns on their investment as the State Government has made adequate provisions for security and legislation that will protect and promote business development.

Earlier, Ms. Audrey Edmonson, speaking on behalf of the group, said the team was on a fact-finding mission to determine areas of possible collaboration with the State Government, adding that the team would also visit 35 cities in Africa.

She recalled that governments of the two countries had in November last year signed an agreement to assist each other in trade development especially in port administration and infrastructure development.

Ms. Edmonson, who commended Lagos State government for its urban renewal and infrastructural development programme, noted that the rapid transformation in the State within the last two years clearly demonstrated government’s genuine commitment to an improved living condition of the citizenry.

“We are here to tell you that we are willing to work with the Lagos State Government and Nigeria as a whole, we want to strengthen our agreement in Ports Administration. We are pleased with the transformation that we have seen so far in Lagos State, we believe Lagos is Nigeria and your projects will go a long way to impact on the lives of the people,” she said.